Data reception and transmission method and apparatus for power saving in communication system using multiple carriers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-carrier resource utilization method and apparatus for power saving in a communication system using a multi-carrier, in which the activation of a secondary carrier for transmitting and receiving data traffic between a terminal and a base station is determined according to the QoS (Quality of Service) requirements such as a data traffic status between the terminal and the base station, a maximum sustained traffic rate, a maximum traffic burst size, or the like, and an indication message (Indication) indicating this is transferred to the terminal through a primary carrier to transmit and receive data traffic through the activated secondary carrier.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of operating carriers at a user equipment in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 configuring a primary carrier and a plurality of secondary carriers, wherein the primary carrier is configured as a carrier for performing a network entry procedure; 
 receiving a message through the primary carrier, the message including:
 an indicator indicating activation of a secondary carrier of the plurality of secondary carriers; and 
 an index of the secondary carrier to be activated; 
 
 receiving a secondary carrier deactivation time offset, the secondary carrier time offset being a number of frames; 
 activating the secondary carrier no earlier than a specific subframe offset, the specific subframe offset being a number of subframes after receiving the indicator; 
 receiving data on the activated secondary carrier; and 
 deactivating the activated secondary carrier based on the the secondary carrier deactivation time offset. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is received as a type of a Medium Access Control (MAC) message. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary carrier is always activated and the secondary carrier is initially deactivated. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary carrier is activated based on a quality of service (QoS) capability. 
     
     
       5. A user equipment of operating carriers in a wireless communication system, the user equipment comprising:
 a wireless communication unit; and 
 a controller operatively connected to the wireless communication unit and configured to
 configure a primary carrier and a plurality of secondary carriers, wherein the primary carrier is configured as a carrier for performing a network entry procedure; 
 receive a message through the primary carrier, the message including:
 an indicator indicating activation of a secondary carrier of the plurality of secondary carriers; and 
 an index of the secondary carrier to be activated; and 
 
 receive a secondary carrier deactivation time offset, the secondary carrier deactivation time offset being a number of frames; 
 activate the secondary carrier no earlier than a specific subframe offset, the specific subframe offset being a number of subframes after receiving the indicator, 
 receive data on the activated secondary carrier; and 
 deactivate the activated secondary carrier based on the secondary carrier deactivation time offset. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The user equipment of  claim 5 , wherein the message is received as a type of a Medium Access Control (MAC) message. 
     
     
       7. The user equipment of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured that activate always the primary carrier and initially deactivate the secondary carrier.